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Security Challenges and Issues in the Sahelo – Saharan Region

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Security Challenges and Issues in the Sahelo – Saharan Region SECURITY CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN THE SAHELO-SAHARAN REGION THE SENEGAL PERSPECTIVE by Mohamed Eljarh Copyright: © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Bamako Office, 2016. Editor: Jan Henrik Fahlbusch, Residing Representative Editorial Committee: Countel Kanne, Jan Henrik Fahlbusch Ordering our publications: Medias published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) may not be used for commercial purpose, except with prior written consent from FES. The ideas and opinion expressed in the current study are those of the author. They do not reflect necessarily the viewpoint of FES. SECURITY CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN THE SAHELO – SAHARAN REGION CONTENT FOREWORD 4 INTRODUCTION 5 I. THE SECURITY CONTEXT IN SENEGAL: CHALLENGES AND THREATS 6 II. CAUSES 10 III. THE KEY PLAYERS 12 IV. THE STATE AND THE SECURITY CONTEXT IN SENEGAL 12 V. THE SUPPORTIVE STAKEHOLDERS 13 VI. SENEGAL AND OTHER SAHELO-SAHARAN STATES 14 VII. RECOMMENDATIONS 15 VIII. CONCLUSION 17 3 SECURITY CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN THE SAHELO – SAHARAN REGION FOREWORD The recent Malian and Libyan crises have exacerbated the multidimensional insecurity (at personal, economic, political, social, environmental, healthcare, etc. levels) that affects the populations living the Sahelo-Saharan region, and have showcased not only the weakness of the States but also the necessity for regional cooperation, especially between the Maghreb and West Africa. Together, they may face up to similar challenges. The project called "Dialogues about Security in the Sahelo-Saharan Region" stems from this observation. It was initiated by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Office in Mali, in partnership with its counterparts in Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, in order to underscore the strong interdependences that exist between North and West Africa regarding security matters, and to promote national and sub-regional dialogues about the security challenges and issues that prevail within the States and across borders. It aims at assessing the overall situation in the region, in light of the concept of human security. This is why country-based studies were conducted in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Tunisia. Each country-based study went through a validation process led by a committee of human security specialists from the country in question. Also, each country-based study was discussed by experts during a workshop that was organized for the purpose of not only identifying shared issues, but also agreeing on the top political actions that must be carried out in the Sahelo- Maghrebian region. These country-based studies represent the first phase of an on-going multiyear project. They are also the intellectual basis on which some upcoming activities will be based, such as a regional conference that will focus on the priority issues that the experts have defined during their respective workshops. The outcomes of the project will be used by all the key players involved in the various aspects of human security across the region. They will also be important sources of information and guidelines for the policy-makers and the members of the civil society, as well as for national and foreign researchers and university staff members. Bamako, July 2016 Jan Henrik Fahlbusch Countel Kanne Residing Representative Program Leader 4 SECURITY CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN THE SAHELO – SAHARAN REGION INTRODUCTION Senegal has a population of 14 million inhabitants and holds a key position, from a geographic standpoint, in the Sahelo- Saharan region. The country is a reference in terms of its rich democratic experience and its well-known religious and cultural heritage. However, this heritage includes a multitude of political parties and of religious brotherhoods, and may be a source of conflict. Indeed, for most of the Senegalese, religious affiliation is part of their identity and it should be protected from any type of attack or insinuation. This creates social tensions sometimes. In addition, the high number of political parties sets the stage for a mixing-up of preferences that may generates dangerous setbacks for the country. This religious and political setting is both an asset that turns Senegal into a hub for the sub-region, and a tangible source of conflict that may weaken the country at any given time. Security comes from a set of measures that allows a group of individuals to enjoy an environment that promotes their physical, psychological and economic well-being. In general, the Senegalese are particularly concerned with security issues at individual level. This shows through the support they provide to proximity security forces, and through the upsurge of private agencies that often recruit security guards to protect individuals. However, the Senegalese do not get involved in security issues that pertain to the State in a satisfactory manner. Taking into account the need for the Sahelo-Saharan region to consolidate its achievements, as well as the high priority for Senegal to strengthen its security system structurally and formally, this study analyzes the security challenges for the country and their impact on its relations with both the countries of the sub-region and the bi and multilateral partners. It is based on a holistic definition of security. This study was carried out according to the following methodology: First, an extensive study was conducted on the security context in Senegal, with a focus on the challenges and threats that the country is facing. It required of one to look closely into security from several points of view: personal, social, economic, food, environmental, health and political security. This analysis also includes the correlation between these aspects of security and insecurity within the State. This confers a global dimension to the analysis. A second part discusses the different responses of the Senegalese State to the security issues in question, and the State and non-State key players involved in dealing with such issues. A third part outlines the position of Senegal in the Sahelo-Saharan region, and talks of both its strategic interests in the sub-region and the nature of its bi and multilateral relations. Finally, a series of recommendations followed. It included 10 key recommendations that are meant to be solutions to the identified problems. This study is based on two distinct sources of information: a series of interviews was conducted with 27 different personalities from the country and whose expertise helped with finalizing this study, while a number of documents and journals dealing with security issues got consulted in order to back up the technical dimension of the information collected from the interviewees. 5 SECURITY CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN THE SAHELO – SAHARAN REGION I. THE SECURITY CONTEXT IN SENEGAL: CHALLENGES AND THREATS In Senegal, there are numerous security challenges and increasingly imminent threats. They may be associated to different themes, such as personal, social, economic, food, environmental, health and political security. 1.1. Personal safety Senegal is a sovereign State. Among other notions, sovereignty refers to a national army that is charged with the mission of protecting people and their property. Since September 2001, after the United States of America, that was considered the superpower of the world, got attacked and was destabilized by a very small number of terrorists, the world got shaken also by the wake-up call of extremism. Although it has one of the largest armies in the world, this superpower could not defend itself against this type of threat. From then on, Senegal and other countries, particularly those in the Sahelo-Saharan region, have been dealing with security challenges that may be tied to terrorism. Considered as "the threat which has no borders", terrorism has now become the leading source of anxiety across the world. More than six thousand years ago, the Chinese defined terrorist acts as "kill one and destabilize ten thousand". Such acts occurred not only in Western countries, but also in African countries, including Senegal. Today, because of advanced technology and the proliferation of social media, any terrorist act that occurs in a given part of the world affects more than a million individuals, because have access to Internet and other medias. In Senegal, the fear of terrorist attacks is affecting the population. People consider terrorism as one of the top threats to personal safety, notwithstanding the latent conflict in Casamance that has lasted more than 33 years and that remains a real threat. It is true that the Senegalese State is making efforts to resolve this conflict, but it still is one of the major problems that the authorities should handle at once. Muslims represent 94% of the population in Senegal, and religious radicalism is growing among them. The rise of Salafism, in the neighboring State of Mauritania in particular, is a problem that needs to be addressed. A considerable number of individuals, who claimed to be affiliated to religious leaders or brotherhoods, are increasingly present in the country1. Widespread corruption and the proliferation of small arms and small caliber weapons are phenomena that exacerbate security issues in Senegal. In addition, cybercrime is a real threat to the population. There is also insecurity associated with the coastal line. Senegal is bordered to the West by the Atlantic Ocean. This is an open window of opportunity for terrorists, and the slightest inattention could lead to a dramatic situation for the country. Illicit trafficking in human-beings, drugs, tobacco and other narcotics is becoming prevalent. The porosity of borders constitutes a serious threat to the stability of not only the desert area, but also the country at large. To the East, the neighboring State of Mali represents one of the greatest dangers. It is facing armed jihadist groups that may infiltrate the Senegalese territory at any time, especially given the fact that instability in Mali forced numerous displaced people to resettle in the eastern part of Senegal. To the South of the country, the unsettled Casamance conflict contributes to the vulnerability of Senegal.
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